Peripheral component interconnect adapter and computer using same

ABSTRACT

A peripheral component interconnect (PCI) adapter includes a PCI connector for connecting to a PCI slot of a motherboard, a first PCI expansion slots for connecting a first PCI card, a second PCI expansion slot for connecting a second PCI card, a detection control circuit connected to the first PCI expansion slot and the second PCI expansion slot, and an alarm circuit connected to the detection control circuit. The detection control circuit detects operation power of the first PCI card and the second PCI card, and controls the alarm circuit to report a fault alarm when the operation power of the first PCI card exceeds a threshold power of the first PCI expansion slot or the operation power of the second PCI card exceeds a threshold power of the second PCI expansion slot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 fromChina Patent Application No. CN201210529765.5, filed on Dec. 11, 2012,in the China Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to computer technologies, and moreparticularly, to a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) adapter for acomputer.

2. Description of Related Art

A computer includes a motherboard with several PCI slots, and a PCI cardcan be attached into the PCI slot to provide an expansion function forthe computer. Normally, a number of the PCI slots in the motherboard islimited, for example, a typical motherboard can only provide three orfour PCI slots. However, a user may desire to install more PCI cards toimprove function of the computer, however, this is impracticable due tothe limited number of the PCI slots.

What is needed, therefore, is to provide a means that solve the problemdiscussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a computer according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way oflimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements. It should be noted that referencesto “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily tothe same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIG. 1 shows a computer 10 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The computer 10 includes a motherboard 20, a PCI adapter 30and a plurality of PCI cards including a first PCI card 41, a second PCIcard 42, and a third PCI card 43. The motherboard 20 may include aplurality of PCI slot 21, and only one of the PCI slots 21 isschematically illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the PCI slots 21 may be oneselected from a PCI express (PCI-E) slot, a PCI extended (PCI-X) slot, aPCI Accelerated Graphics Port (PCI-AGP) slot and a conventional PCIslot. The PCI adapter 30 may be connected to the illustrated PCI slot 21and provide at least two PCI expansion slots, in the present embodiment,the PCI expansion slots includes a first PCI expansion slot 31, a secondPCI expansion slot 32 and a third PCI expansion slot 33.

Each of the PCI cards may be one selected from a PCI-E card, a PCI-Xcard, a PCI-AGP card, and a conventional PCI card. In the presentembodiment, the first PCI card 41, the second PCI card 42 and the thirdPCI card 43 are respectively plugged into the first PCI expansion slot31, the second PCI expansion slot 32 and the third PCI expansion slot33. It is noted, however, that the PCI cards included in the computer 10are not limited to the first PCI card 41, the second PCI card 42 and thethird PCI card 43 in practice; for example, the computer 10 may includeother PCI cards that are plugged into the non-illustrated PCI slots 21in the motherboard 20. Moreover, the PCI cards 41, 42, 43 may be a videocard, a sound card, a memory card, a network card, a TV tuner card, orthe like.

The PCI adapter 30 may further include a PCI connector 34, a detectioncontrol circuit 35, and an alarm circuit 36. The PCI connector 34 may beplugged into the illustrated PCI slot 21 in the motherboard 20, and isfurther connected to the first PCI expansion slot 31, the second PCIexpansion slot 32 and the third PCI expansion slot 33. Theinterconnection of the PCI connector 34 and the PCI slot 21 in themotherboard 20 may enable communication between the PCI cards 41, 42, 43plugged into the PCI expansion slots 31, 32, 33 and the motherboard 20.

The detection control circuit 35 is connected between the PCI expansionslots 31, 32, 33 and the alarm circuit 36. The detection control circuit35 may detect operation power of the first PCI card 41, the second PCIcard 42 and the third PCI card 43, and determine whether the detectedoperation power exceeds threshold power of the first PCI expansion slot31, the second PCI expansion slot 32 and the third PCI expansion slot33. Upon determining that the operation power of one of the PCI cards41, 42, 43 exceeds the threshold power of the corresponding PCIexpansion slot 31, 32, 33, the detection control circuit 35 mayimplement an alarm control function, for example, the detection controlcircuit 35 may control the alarm circuit 36 to report a fault alarm.

For example, the alarm circuit 36 may include a buzzer 364 and aplurality of fault indicators including a first indicator lamp 361, asecond indicator lamp 362 and a third indicator lamp 363. The indicatorlamps 361, 362, 363 and the buzzer 364 are electrically connected to thedetection control circuit 35. Each of the indicator lamps 361, 362, 363corresponds to a respective one of the PCI expansion slots 31, 32, 33.

When the detection control circuit 35 determines the operation power ofthe first PCI card 41 exceeds the threshold power of the first PCIexpansion slot 31, the detection control circuit 35 outputs a firstcontrol signal to control the alarm circuit 36 to light the firstindicator lamp 361 or to make the first indicator lamp 361 flicker.

When the detection control circuit 35 determines the operation power ofthe second PCI card 42 exceeds the threshold power of the second PCIexpansion slot 32, the detection control circuit 35 outputs a secondcontrol signal to control the alarm circuit 36 to light the secondindicator lamp 362 or to make the second indicator lamp 362 flicker.

When the detection control circuit 35 determines the operation power ofthe third PCI card 43 exceeds the threshold power of the third PCIexpansion slot 33, the detection control circuit 35 outputs a thirdcontrol signal to control the alarm circuit 36 to light the thirdindicator lamp 363 or to make the third indicator lamp 363 flicker.

Moreover, when the detection control circuit 35 determines that theoperation power of one of the PCI cards 41, 42, 43 exceeds the thresholdpower of the corresponding PCI expansion slot 31, 32, 33, the detectioncontrol circuit 35 may also output a buzzer control signal to controlthe alarm circuit 36 to ring the buzzer 364, such that the user of thecomputer can be aware of the fault alarm.

Optionally, the PCI adapter 30 may further include an alarm switch 37for enabling or disabling the detection control circuit 35 and the alarmcircuit 36, and in addition, the detection control circuit 35 includes acontrol terminal for receiving an enablement signal or a disablementsignal from the alarm switch 37.

For example, the alarm switch 37 may include a three-terminal key 370,the three-terminal key 370 includes a first terminal A being grounded, asecond terminal B electrically connected to the control terminal of thedetection control circuit 35, and a third terminal C electricallyconnected to a power voltage VCC. The power voltage can for example be adirect-current (DC) voltage of 5V or 3.3V.

When the three-terminal key 370 is pressed, the second terminal B iselectrically connected to the third terminal C, and thus the powervoltage VCC is transmitted to the second terminal B; the power voltageVCC serves as the enablement signal and is output to the detectioncontrol circuit 35 to enable the alarm control function of the detectioncontrol circuit 35.

When the three-terminal key 370 is released, the second terminal B iselectrically connected to the first terminal A, and thus a groundvoltage is transmitted to the second terminal B; the ground voltageserves as the disablement signal and is output to the detection controlcircuit 35 to disable the alarm control function of the detectioncontrol circuit 35.

In the present embodiment, the PCI adapter 30 can provide the PCIexpansion slots 31, 32, 33 for installing more PCI cards 41, 42, 43, andthus the PCI capability of the computer 10 is improved. Moreover, thedetection control circuit 35 of the PCI adapter 30 can control the alarmcircuit 36 to report a fault alarm when the operation power of the PCIcards 41, 42, 43 exceed the threshold power of the PCI expansion slots31, 32, 33, with the fault alarm, the user may take some action to avoidthe PCI adapter 30 is burned out, and thus reliability of the PCIadapter 30 is also improved.

It is to be understood that the described embodiments are intended toillustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Any elements described inaccordance with any embodiments is understood that they can be used inaddition or substituted in other embodiments. Embodiments can also beused together. Variations may be made to the embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit of the disclosure. The disclosure illustratesbut does not restrict the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A peripheral component interconnect (PCI)adapter, comprising: a PCI connector connectable to a PCI slot of amotherboard; a first PCI expansion slot connectable to a first PCI card;a second PCI expansion slot connectable to a second PCI card; adetection control circuit connected to the first PCI expansion slot andthe second PCI expansion slot; an alarm circuit connected to thedetection control circuit; and an alarm switch connected to thedetection control circuit; wherein the alarm switch is configured toenable or disable alarm control function of the detection controlcircuit by outputting an enablement signal or a disablement signal tothe detection control circuit; and the detection control circuit isconfigured to detect operation power of the first PCI card and thesecond PCI card, and to control the alarm circuit to report a faultalarm when the operation power of the first PCI card exceeds a thresholdpower of the first PCI expansion slot or the operation power of thesecond PCI card exceeds a threshold power of the second PCI expansionslot.
 2. The PCI adapter of claim 1, wherein the alarm circuit comprisesa first indicator lamp that indicates the operation power of the firstPCI card exceeds the threshold power of the first PCI expansion slot. 3.The PCI adapter of claim 2, wherein upon determining that the operationpower of the first PCI card exceeds the threshold power of the first PCIexpansion slot, the detection control circuit outputs a first controlsignal to the alarm circuit, the first control signal is configured tocontrol the alarm circuit to light the first indicator lamp or to makethe first indicator lamp flicker.
 4. The PCI adapter of claim 2, whereinthe alarm circuit further comprises a second indicator lamp thatindicates the operation power of the second PCI card exceeds thethreshold power of the second PCI expansion slot.
 5. The PCI adapter ofclaim 4, wherein upon determining that the operation power of the secondPCI card exceeds the threshold power of the second PCI expansion slot,the detection control circuit outputs a second control signal to thealarm circuit, the second control signal is configured to control thealarm circuit to light the second indicator lamp or to make the secondindicator lamp flicker.
 6. The PCI adapter of claim 1, wherein the alarmcircuit further comprises a buzzer, and upon determining that theoperation power of one of the first PCI card and the second PCI cardexceeds the threshold power of the corresponding one of the first PCIexpansion slot and the second PCI expansion slot, the detection controlcircuit controls the alarm circuit to ring the buzzer.
 7. The PCIadapter of claim 1, wherein the alarm switch comprises a three-terminalkey, the three-terminal key comprises a first terminal being grounded, asecond terminal electrically connected to the detection control circuit,and a third terminal electrically connected to a power voltage.
 8. ThePCI adapter of claim 7, wherein When the three-terminal key is pressed,the second terminal is electrically connected to the third terminal toreceive the power voltage, and the power voltage serves as theenablement signal and is output to the detection control circuit toenable the alarm control function of the detection control circuit. 9.The PCI adapter of claim 7, wherein when the three-terminal key isreleased, the second terminal is electrically connected to the firstterminal to receive a ground voltage, and the ground voltage serves asthe disablement signal and is output to the detection control circuit todisable the alarm control function of the detection control circuit. 10.A computer, comprising: a motherboard comprising a plurality ofperipheral component interconnect (PCI) slots; and a PCI adapter,comprising: a PCI connector connecting to one of the PCI slot of themotherboard; a plurality of PCI expansion slots for connecting PCI cardsrespectively; a detection control circuit connected to the plurality ofPCI expansion slots; an alarm circuit connected to the detection controlcircuit; and an alarm switch connected to the detection control circuit;wherein the alarm switch is configured to enable or disable alarmcontrol function of the detection control circuit by outputting anenablement signal or a disablement signal to the detection controlcircuit; the detection control circuit is configured to detect operationpower of the PCI cards, and to control the alarm circuit to report afault alarm when the operation power of any one of the PCI cards exceedsa threshold power of a corresponding one of the PCI expansion slots. 11.The computer of claim 10, wherein the plurality of PCI expansion slotscomprises a first PCI expansion slot for connecting a first PCI card,and the alarm circuit comprises a first indicator lamp for indicatingthe operation power of the first PCI card exceeds the threshold power ofthe first PCI expansion slot.
 12. The computer of claim 11, wherein upondetermining that the operation power of the first PCI card exceeds thethreshold power of the first PCI expansion slot, the detection controlcircuit outputs a first control signal to the alarm circuit, the firstcontrol signal is configured to control the alarm circuit to light thefirst indicator lamp or to make the first indicator lamp flicker. 13.The computer of claim 11, wherein the plurality of PCI expansion slotsfurther comprises a second PCI expansion slot for connecting a secondPCI card, the alarm circuit further comprises a second indicator lampfor indicating the operation power of the second PCI card exceeds thethreshold power of the second PCI expansion slot.
 14. The computer ofclaim 13, wherein upon determining that the operation power of thesecond PCI card exceeds the threshold power of the second PCI expansionslot, the detection control circuit outputs a second control signal tothe alarm circuit, the second control signal is configured to controlthe alarm circuit to light the second indicator lamp or to make thesecond indicator lamp flicker.
 15. The computer of claim 10, wherein thealarm circuit further comprises a buzzer, and upon determining any oneof the PCI cards exceeds a threshold power of a corresponding one of thePCI expansion slots, the detection control circuit outputs a buzzercontrol signal to control the alarm circuit, the buzzer control signalis configured to control the alarm circuit to ring the buzzer.
 16. Thecomputer of claim 10, wherein the alarm switch comprises athree-terminal key, the three-terminal key comprises a first terminalbeing grounded, a second terminal electrically connected to thedetection control circuit, and a third terminal electrically connectedto a power voltage.
 17. The computer of claim 16, wherein When thethree-terminal key is pressed, the second terminal is electricallyconnected to the third terminal to receive the power voltage, and thepower voltage serves as the enablement signal and is output to thedetection control circuit to enable the alarm control function of thedetection control circuit.
 18. The computer of claim 16, wherein whenthe three-terminal key is released, the second terminal is electricallyconnected to the first terminal to receive a ground voltage, and theground voltage serves as the disablement signal and is output to thedetection control circuit to disable the alarm control function of thedetection control circuit.